Sports Illustrated Sports Person of the Year Betting Odds

When it comes to activities people bet on, there are none more popular than sports. As it stands, the sports betting market was valued at USD 83.65 billion in 2022, and is only growing from there. Billions of people across the globe tune in to their preferred sport and bet on who they think will be victorious for a chance to win big. 

When it comes to publications about sports, Sports Illustrated takes the crown as one of the most widely read publications in America. Each year, the famous sports magazine (published since 1954) selects an athlete or athletes as their “Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year” – an honor held in high regard among fans of sports. 

Since this is such a high-profile event, it should come as no surprise that sportsbooks offer odds to bet on who will be the next selected athlete (or sportsperson) that is dubbed “Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year”. 

• The magazine usually announces the winner in a ceremony held in December of that year 

• Only Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, and LeBron James have won the award multiple times 

• The first winner of the award was British track-and-field star Roger Bannister 

• The most recent award recipient (2022) was Stephen Curry, NBA Finals MVP 

• Winners of the award receive a silver trophy created by Tiffany and Co. 

• Athletes from all over the world are eligible to win, although the majority of past winners have been from the United States

• Not all winners are athletes – coaches and league commissioners have won the award as well

• Only 6 women have won the award over the 68 years it’s been awarded

• LeBron James has won the award the most times, with three awards under his belt

Previous Winners of Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year

What is Betting on Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year?

Some of the most popular betting websites will offer betting on who will be the next sports figure that will be dubbed Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for 2023. Betting on this category is pretty straightforward, and all you’ll need to do is find a betting app or website that offers Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year betting (typically you can find it in the "specials" category). 

Next, you’ll want to compare multiple sportsbooks because they will most likely offer different odds for Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. Once you’ve done some research and selected which sportsbook is right for you, you can go ahead and make a bet. 

Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Betting Markets

For this betting topic, there is typically only one betting market that most sportsbooks offer. In this case, you can choose which individual will win the award. It is possible to find prop bets for this kind of bet based upon nationality or if a team will win over an individual. These offerings, however, are pretty rare to find in the market.

Who Will Be Selected as Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year

This betting market should be obvious to whoever is interested in betting. With this market, you are betting to predict which sportsperson will end up winning the title of that year’s Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year award. Oddsmakers will provide a list of potential candidates with set odds on the likelihood of each candidate winning the award, which will help to inform you of how much you can potentially win. These odds will likely fluctuate throughout the year, particularly after other award ceremonies are held. For instance, Patrick Mahomes odds to win this coveted award dropped significantly after he won both the Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP in February of 2023.

Contenders for Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year 2023

Although it’s still early in the year, there are a handful of athletes/teams that should be in the running for Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for 2023. As the year continues and more sports events are held, this list should expand with more likely candidates to win the award. 

Things to Consider When Betting on Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year

If you’re looking to bet on the 2023 (or beyond) winner of this prestigious award, there are a few things we recommend considering before placing your first bet. 

Sometimes There Are Multiple Winners 

While the majority of these awards are awarded to a single candidate, sometimes Sports Illustrated decided to throw a curveball and name multiple candidates as their Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. 

In 1972, 1979, 1984, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2011, and 2017, two candidates were dubbed Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. In 1987, eight candidates received the award, and in 2020, five candidates won. 

Keep this in mind when you’re deciding whom you’ll bet on to win the award in 2023. And also be sure to read the fine print at your sportsbook in the event of a split award. In some cases if you have a recipient that is sharing the award with other individuals or teams your bet may be voided.

Teams Can Also Win the Award 

Sometimes, the winners of the awards are not individuals, but teams. 1980 was the first year this happened, with Sports Illustrated giving the entire U.S. Olympic Hockey team the award. In 1999, Sports Illustrated continued the trend by awarding the distinction to the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team. The last time this happened was in 2018, when the Golden State Warriors were chosen by Sports Illustrated to be the winners of that year. 

It isn’t common for a team to win this award, but the precedent for a team to win has certainly been set by Sports Illustrated. Be aware of this when deciding on whom you’ll back as the next recipient of the award. 

Most of the Winners Are from the United States

Considering the fact that Sports Illustrated is an American publication, they certainly have a bias towards awarding their Sportsperson of the Year Award to American athletes. Of the 88 sportspeople that have won the award, 71 of them have been from the United States, which is over 80% of all of the winners. That doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the future winners will be from the United States, but the historical trend certainly leans towards an American being selected again. However, Sports Illustrated can certainly buck the trend and choose a sportsperson of another nationality, so don’t rely on the historical trend completely! 

The Awards Take Place in Early December

Sports Illustrated typically announces who will win the award in early December. This means that any athletes or other sportspeople who have events that take place later in the year may be eligible to win in the following year. For example, the 2022 FIFA World Cup final took place on December 18th, 10 days after Sports Illustrated announced their 2022 Sportsperson of the Year. This means that the winners of that tournament could be eligible to win the award in 2023.

Sports Illustrated Betting News Diary

If you’re interested in betting on Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year, we’ll be providing updates along the way as more and more candidates enter the running.